April 6 2001
Federal Health Minister, Dr
Michael Wooldridge, said today he was disappointed that
companies conducting genetically modified crop trials in
Tasmania had disregarded existing voluntary controls on use of
genetically modified organisms in Australia.
Dr Wooldridge was releasing draft reports into breaches of the
voluntary conditions by Aventis CropScience Pty Ltd and Monsanto
Australia Ltd.
"It disappoints me that the voluntary controls set up by the
previous Federal Labor Government have been so flagrantly
flouted in this case.
"However, I am relieved that active policing and prompt action
have meant negligible possibility of harm to the environment -
and no chance of harm to humans.
"Furthermore, I look forward to the end of June this year when
our tough new gene technology laws ensure that Australia can
legally ensure no-one can treat our home with disrespect like
this again," Dr Wooldridge said.
"The people of Tasmania and the rest of the nation can rest
assured that once this legislation is in place, we will be
prepared to use it to get tough on anyone who does not treat the
Australian landscape with respect."
Dr Wooldridge thanked the Interim
Office of Gene
Technology Regulation (IOGTR) for being so vigilant on
behalf of the environment and Australians.
"I am pleased to note that their monitoring of the use of GMO
trials has been so effective" Dr Wooldridge said, noting that
full details of IOGTR inspections in Tasmania were available in
the report.
"I note also that the ALP, which is often critical of how we
handle this issue, was happy in Government to preside over field
trials all over Australia without ever once monitoring how
companies were keeping the trials from spreading."
Dr Wooldridge said he was also concerned at the way in which the
Tasmanian Minister for Primary Industry, Water and the
Environment had chosen to deal with this issue of non-compliance
by Aventis and Monsanto in Tasmania.
"He appears to have actively fed the concern understandably felt
by Tasmanians, rather then taking a responsible course of
condemning the companies - but keeping the magnitude of the
breaches in perspective," Dr Wooldridge said.
The breaches relate to the inspection by the IOGTR in February
this year of 49 canola trial sites operated by Aventis and eight
sites under the control of Monsanto.
Of the Aventis sites, 18 were found not to comply with the
recommendations made by GMAC with respect to the conduct of
field trials. Of the Monsanto sites, three were found not to
comply with GMAC recommendations.
In all cases, flowering or mature canola was found at a time
when the sites should have been regularly cleaned up to prevent
the plants from reaching such mature stages of growth. Action
was immediately taken by the IOGTR to ensure the companies
cleaned up the sites.
"I am pleased the IOGTR is continuing to monitor these sites on
a regular basis. These reports show the IOGTR is on the job and
doing it well," Dr Wooldridge said.
"The IOGTR has now made two further visits to Tasmania to check
the remedial action being taken by Monsanto and Aventis on all
sites, including ensuring that volunteers are removed, and that
compatible species are destroyed where necessary."
Dr Wooldridge said the continued presence of volunteers at
various stages of maturity at the sites underlines the
importance of the IOGTR's request, as set out in the reports,
that GMAC seriously consider the future of such field trials,
conducted by these companies.
"I await further advice on this issue." Dr Wooldridge said
Copy of draft report available on
www.health.gov.au/tga/genetech.htm
OGTR news release
N3647
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